Surfer's height consideration in volume to weight charts

[pjgazele]

Hey all! First, thanks to this forum. Over the past few months I received a ton of great information from you all!

I see a lot of surfboard volume to weight calculators and charts (Surf Simply, Lost Surfboards, etc.) that show recommended board lengths for different board types, for certain levels of surfer's ability and weight. But I don't see a lot of consideration or factoring in of surfer's height.

I'm 6'3", a beginner/intermediate longboard surfer and have recently been interested in, and tried slightly shorter boards (7'2" to 7'10" range) with decent volume (in mid-50s liter range). I'm about 176 pounds. I usually surf 2' - 6' beach breaks that often times have good shapes, but also a bit peaky.

So I've learned to pop up with my toes on the end of the board, not hanging off the back of the tail. Now I know there's the chicken wing technique but this is not a technique I normally do. So given my weight and ability, I demo a mid length board that has volume of about 55 liters. But when I'm laying down on my board, getting ready to catch a wave, say on 7'6", with my height my toes are just barely on very edge of the end (tail). If I move up to compensate I feel too far forward. The nose of the board is under the water line. So it doesn't feel right. Again, to feel that proper balance with positioning, I would have to be in the position of my toes barely on or just slightly off. So now it makes my pop up success very limiting. I'm rather fumbling to quickly pop up and feel balanced to drop down and trim the line.

So, if my goal is to add mid-length board (mini mal, funboard, hybrid, etc.) to my quiver, what do I do? Why aren't charts, calculators, recommendations considering surfer height into the mix, especially if someone is rather tall? For my current ability and goal, should I really only consider boards where my proper balanced position on the board when laying down and paddling allows my toes to firmly be on the end of the board, especially when I'm popping up? Which means either a longer min-length board for me, or a board with a lot of volume under the chest, or both (like my 9' longboard does..)? What mid-length board shape types do you think, given my height, I should be taking a close look at?

Lots of questions here so many thanks for your read!

[ConcreteVitamin]

Why does toes hanging at tail matter to you? You could bend your legs so that the toes are pointing upwards?

[waikikikichan]

So I've ( 6'3", beginner/intermediate longboardsurfer) learned to pop up with my toes on the end of the board, not hanging off the back of the tail.
So given my weight and ability, I demo a mid length board that has volume of about 55 liters. But when I'm laying down on my board, getting ready to catch a wave, say on 7'6", with my height my toes are just barely on very edge of the end (tail).
So, if my goal is to add mid-length board (mini mal, funboard, hybrid, etc.) to my quiver, what do I do?

Your goal probably after you mid-length stint, is to go to a groveller / Fish shape, where your shins will be hanging off the board and your knees on the tail pad. Your "Toe" technique is for on a Longboard. Your not on a longboard anymore. Adapt and Overcome. Push off your thighs.

( or don't go down to 7'6" until you are ready to )

[dtc]

Reality is that you are not popping up correctly. You are blaming the board/size calculators for not allowing you to get way with doing something the wrong way.

As wkk said, using your toes is a technique that works on a long board, but it doesnt work on a shorter board. Chicken wing isnt the answer, 'just' learn to pop up in one motion not using your feet/toes at all. There are plenty of videos. It can take a while to learn though, and even when you do you will find yourself slipping back into using your toes every now and then and face planting...

I'm 6'3 so I know what you mean; but height doesnt really matter (well, other than shorter people tend to have a lower centre of balance and that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it). Jordy Smith is 6'3 (or so) and surfs a 6'2 board; JJF is about 6'1 and surfs a 6'0 or 6'1 board.

As a tall surfer its important to keep your hands low when pushing for the pop up ie lower rib level. Otherwise everything is the same as for short surfers.